We are all aware of the fundamental role that technology plays today in those companies that want to convey a professional and innovative image. Tools that until a few years ago were considered additional services are currently becoming essential elements for those companies that want to offer fast, effective and high quality customer service. These are the main trends in VoIP telephony that we recommend you take into account this year 2021.

The most efficient way to take full advantage of VoIP telephony is through cloud storage. This tool not only allows you to do without physical devices whose installation and maintenance can be an additional expense, but also offers you much more flexibility and a large storage capacity to save conversations.

Another noteworthy aspect of VoIP telephony trends is the growth of 5G technology. It is a technology that more and more companies use due to their high connectivity and speed; the fifth generation of the Internet connection enables much more efficient and fast communication, remotely and in real time.

‎It is worth noting the importance of cybersecurity when it comes to the latest trends in VoIP telephony. We understand by cybersecurity the set of tools used to keep all company information in ‎‎a safe place, as well as protecting the cloud and other tools from potential threats or attacks that may damage such information or jeopardize its confidentiality.‎

The use and increase in the popularity of smartphones have also been very significant factors for the rise of VoIP telephony. With smartphones with access to a high-speed connection, it's much easier and more convenient to access cloud communications applications such as My Virtual PBX, CONNECT3's cloud switchboard. Over the Internet and from anywhere and anytime, this is one of the biggest advantages of VoIP telephony.

The Internet of Things concept refers to new technologies and services through which it is possible to establish interconnections between different objects. As this technology develops, it will be possible to apply it to VoIP telephony, which will be very useful and practical for companies in different fields. The Internet of Things will allow you to manage different computers and objects from a single device, and this will save time and resources.

One of the trends in VoIP telephony that is most marking the evolution of this tool is the role that Artificial Intelligence plays in the customer service of many companies. With AI, it's possible to establish conversations with bots programmed to answer questions and provide information to customers.

The combination of AI and VoIP telephony allows the possibility to offer automated customer service for the simplest queries. Virtual assistants are the best example of how this technology streamlines customer service without losing quality.

The Big Data concept refers to a company's large volumes of data. Proper analysis of this data can help companies obtain information related to communication between that company and its customers, knowing the most common types of queries or customer profiles that contact the company. Through this technology, VoIP telephony benefits from real-time information analysis to find solutions faster and more efficiently.

Here are some of the trends that will mark the nearest future of VoIP telephony. A solution that can streamline some of your company's processes and make them more efficient. Customer service is clearly benefited by the use of this technology, through solutions such as CONNECT3's My Virtual PBX. A service that is summarized in one sentence: optimal, integral and multichannel communication in the simplest way.

When we talk about technology and innovation it is very common to confuse the integration of the former with the application of the second. While integrating technology into our company is often positive, we would have nothing without the definition of our primary goal, the right investment, and ongoing training.

These points, coupled to gain value for our customers and create sustainable competitive advantages that make us stand as leaders in our sectors, are the true elements of an applied innovation method.

While unified communications and technology help us improve processes, we need to stop and think about whether we want to go beyond a simple improvement and take the next step toward a profound transformation that increases our company's mobility.

At times, continuous improvement and innovation are complementary issues. However, the first is a practice that optimizes effectiveness and efficiency within organizations and keeps the company's name in the market, but sometimes it is not enough when it comes to seeking leadership levels.

In this way, we see how it is essential to analyze the main objectives, as well as the currently established schemes, and visualize whether we are really at a point where we must take the next step, that is, resort to strong transformations through innovation.

Process innovation must be seen as a radical redesign that leads us to drastic improvements and establishes higher standards, whether in costs, services, quality, and/or production. It is vitally important that as we move forward in transformation, a method is established that allows us to continue innovating without losing the company's objective.

For example, Alestra has a set of practices, methodologies, and processes (which it calls its "Innovation Method") that it has acquired, assimilated and developed throughout its life to incubate disruptive ideas while driving a continuous improvement program that keeps it strategically aligned to its objectives.

The Alestra Innovation Method covers the monitoring of future business opportunities, the methodology of strategic selection of forms of growth, a process of gradual innovation focused on identifying the needs of the human being to generate various alternatives of solutions and services, a digital environment of idea management and collaboration, the effective use of options in telecommunications, the design of organizational structures that support the operation of its innovation program and in addition to all the above, the creation and maintenance of a culture of creativity and innovation in the organization.

Part of the actions for continuous process improvement is technology integration. This and a good method of innovation strengthened through experience make a dumbbell ideal for increasingly effective goal fulfillment.

When an innovative process is established, new standards are also created, which must undergo the process of improvement, which in turn guarantee the development of a new process, and so on. That's why the technology we integrate into our companies must ensure our investment through the flexibility and scope that allows companies to have tools (such as mobile apps) and spaces according to their goals and goals, and with sufficient scalability to sustain business growth.

Finally, human capital is essential, which is essential for the improvement of innovation processes and methods to work. The greatest value of innovation is acquired when everyone in the organization acquires this culture and is an active part of both the method, process improvement and therefore transformation.

In this way, complemented by an entire business innovation scheme that combines experience, teamwork, cutting-edge technology, vision, and best practices, as well as methods and techniques for defining smart strategies, companies can achieve radical changes and spectacular results with minimal risk within their organizations.

As a rule, many hotel customers avoid using hotel room phones due to the prohibitive cost. Many are the customers who have experienced sticker shock when they received their bill and saw how they were being nickeled and dimed simply by using the room’s phone a few times. That’s the sort of lesson that sticks with guests, and they make sure that they don’t repeat that mistake. However, by using a cheaper VoIP system, the hotel can pass those savings on to the guests, making the hotel phones a more attractive option again.

Any hotel worth its salt wants to cater not only to vacationing guests but to professionals on business trips. It’s all part of being all things to all people. VoIP Wi-Fi provides business guests with perks like video conferencing and calls bridging, but without the hotel making a huge financial investment. Such an arrangement can turn a modest little hotel into a competitive, world-class facility with minimal monetary outlay.

The article “The Modern Business Traveler” gives some additional insights into business travelers, who they are, and what sort of devices they use. Fortunately, VoIP has these people covered, and that’s an advantage for your establishment.

When it comes to communications, VoIP brings benefits like voice mail, call hold, and call forwarding to every customer, and once again, at tremendous savings. The more niceties a hotel can provide at little expense, the more customers it will attract.

But those nice little touches aren’t just limited to business travelers. VoIP allows all guests easy access to amenities such as valet and food services, in addition to restaurant or resort bookings.

A VoIP system is far easier to manage than an old-fashioned PSTN. This decreases labor costs while increasing productivity, as fielding incoming calls becomes less of a chore. Also, VoIP offers benefits such as an auto-attendant, which will make sure that no call is missed, even during off-hours when there is little to no staff on hand. Fewer missed calls mean fewer missed opportunities for a new booking.

Despite all the advances in telecommunications and mobile computing, the business world is not ready to give up on faxes quite yet. Sometimes, you just have to have that document in your hands. Fortunately, VoIP supports this older technology courtesy of virtual faxing, also known as IP faxing. It becomes a simple matter to send a fax via e-mail and then print it out as needed. Again, this is a convenience that many business professionals appreciate.

The bottom line is that any business involved in hospitality must be able to offer their customers a plethora of world-class benefits but in such a way as to not break the company’s budget. VoIP offers even the smallest, humblest business the means of running with the big dogs.

As simple as the name suggests, the VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone consists of using Internet access to make connections, without having to resort to telephone lines.

If you know Skype, Microsoft's free program that is among the most popular in the segment, you should already be familiar with how VoIP technology works: it's just having access to the Internet to make video and audio calls anywhere in the world. There is no cost when the call is between computers or electronic devices (Skype-Skype), and has reduced rates when a telephone line (Skype-phone) is needed.

Free tools like Skype solve the problem of those who want to keep in touch with family or friends, but maybe it's not the solution for small and medium-sized businesses, where the call volume is higher. In general, entrepreneurs also demand more quality in connection, leading to the choice of payment and more reliable systems.

Not because your company is going to hire a paid service specialized in IP telephony this system will no longer be financially advantageous. When the costs of VoIP phone connections are compared to those of the conventional phone, the difference can be 50%.

This is what Nigel Broomhall, VoIP phone specialist at Packet Medía, defends. In an interview with Destino Negocio, he explained that cost reduction will depend on the quality of Internet access and the equipment contracted by the company.

"The companies that achieve the greatest cost reduction are those that operate with several locations, at a national or international level. The VoIP system can be configured so that all internal connections are free, saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars on phone connections", he explains.

Science tends to agree with this expectation. In 2006, the International Data Corporation (IDC) released a study entitled "VoIP: Ensuring Competitive Advantage". The cost reduction estimate in that year was already high: according to the IDC, adopting the VoIP system would save 30% on telephony costs, on average.

As you saw, the main advantage of the VoIP phone is related to the resource economy. To survive in a competitive market and ensure the profit of your business, you need to keep an eye on all expenses and seek to minimize them.

But this isn't the only advantage. By virtue of agility, flexibility and integration between systems, Broomhall recommends the VoIP phone for all companies.

"The system allows small businesses to operate in a much larger business context, and for large entrepreneurs to have a completely flexible workforce. All types of companies should consider the VoIP system, either for flexible telephony or to replace obsolete equipment", the specialist says.

The only disadvantage he points out is not exactly a negative point. Broomhall remembers that VoIP telephony makes use of the data network and therefore, who does not have a good Internet connection, can have a bad experience.

The trend, according to Broomhall, is growth. "Improving infrastructure and expanding Internet access will substantially increase the popularity of the VoIP system. It is highly likely that, in the near future, the user will stop paying for telephone connections: the cost will be restricted to the use of the data network", he says.

For now, the only certainty is that the system offers a wide range of possibilities to entrepreneurs. If you value the success of your company and like to innovate in processes, it is not advisable to ignore this trend.

Did you like the subject of this writing? If the tips were helpful, share this article on social media and invite your friends, colleagues and followers to discuss this text. If you have questions about the matter, leave your comment.